- Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Professor Rex Nettleford, (left), shares a laugh with Madam Semaj, while, at right, style maven Gloria Moodie, (left), Ruby Martin (centre), chairman of the Maxfield Park Children's Home, and Urla Junor, (right), wife of Minister of Health John Junor arrive at the National Dance Theatre Company's 42nd season of dance at the Little Theatre.
Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
WELL, MY dears, if there is any thing to be learnt from conventional wisdom or posturing, it is that often times, the actual participants ignore the script.
Now, take for example the notion that opening night, for most theatrical productions, etc., is usually fraught with the nervous energy of the players, and as such is more than not likely to be not a high caliber delivery but really a straightening out of the kinks as the performers work at perfecting their routines for the duration of the season. Those who think so should have attended at the gala opening of the National Dance Theatre Company's (NDTC) 42nd season, which premiered two Fridays ago, at the Little Theatre cultural complex, over there on Tom Redcam Avenue, St. Andrew.
My dears, it was a night of memorable dancing and artistic superlatives that screamed to the maturity of the NDTC and the glorious cultural expressions it has given way to, as a national institution, born out of the diverse socio-economic, cultural and geographic premise not only of Jamaica, but of the Caribbean region and the diaspora, from which the company draws its inspiration. And for my word, how!
Dovecakes, we are talking an evening of fabulous dance here; a celebration of a people, and their struggles as chronicled by insightful choreographers, and told through the art of movement by a company much celebrated for its creative excellence and wizardry!
Luvs, it is oft said that many a king is without honour in their home country. Well, not so with the NDTC, as undoubtedly, the group is the undisputed king of dance, not only here in Jamaica, but across the region as a whole. A fact they re-emphasized with their opening night programme.
Dears, and I do swear, we are talking one glorious night of dance here, and fabulous music, as the NDTC's orchestra, under the baton of musicologist Marjorie Whylie, was nothing short of flawless.
But let us begin at the beginning.
Pumpkins, with 8:00 p.m. being the stated time for the commencement at the Little Theatre, there was a rush of frenetic activity by 7:30p.m., as there was a buzz of activity with motor vehicles rushing on to the theatre compound and discharging their guests, all with an eye on not missing any of the opening movements.
And so it was, that with a crowded foyer at 8:00 p.m., the strains of the National Anthem could be heard emanating from within the sanctum theatre. The anthem over, there was a crush, as guests rushed to be seated before the raising of the curtains.
With all more or less seated, an air of expectant quietitude descended on the Little Theatre, only to be broken moments later, with the raising of the curtain, signaling the commencement of the NDTC's 2004 season of dance and music.
Luvs, it was a spirited curtain-raiser and then some, as the company hit the stage running to a very spirited drum score, choreographed by artistic director/principal choreographer and founder, Professor Rex Nettleford.
Dears, we are talking a fabulous piece of work here, with a little something for everyone, as the work runs the gamut of a spirited interpretation of childhood ring-games, through the intellectual pursuits of a people and their celebration of self, to a score that was as energising as it was captivating, and providing a perfect synergy of music and movement that was indeed a joy for aficionados!
From drum score, it was then into a tribute to the recently transitioned Coxone Dodd, by way of a musical medley by the NDTC Singers, and here, the singers simply stamped their own class on an evening that from its very beginning, made it clear, that it was indeed, going to be a class act and then some!
Luvs, with tenor Carl Bliss filling the theatre with his very rich voice, as he and his musical colleagues gave a most entertaining but yet musically flawless rendition of a number of oldies from Coxone Dodd's portfolio of memorable musical hits, to the accompanying dance moves by Wesley Scott and Earl Brown, which saw them 'dropping legs' to the delight of the audience, it was clear that not only was the NDTC season under way, it was in full and fabulous flight.
'Urban Fissure' was the next piece up, and here was Christopher Walker's debut presentation of a populist folkloric piece in a contemporary arrangement, that showcased not only his skills as a choreographer, but the changing face of the dance genre as indeed, this was a piece that stuck to its text in presentation and styling, and made for arresting attention.
A rather entertaining musical interlude by the NDTC orchestra preceded the night's masterpiece, 'The King Must Die', and what a masterpiece it proved to be too.
First premiering in the 1960s, this classic was revisited as a celebration of the bicentennial of the Haitian Revolution.
'The King Must Die' is an epic! A fabulous showpiece of the company's dance portfolio, the storyline, dancing and costume, making for a regal artistic display of the finest order!
It was after this masterful presentation and on a high, that intermission was interjected, with patrons returning to the theatre for the Arlene Richards choreographed 'Azure' a magical celebrations of dance, light, shadows, and the imagination that makes for a sometimes dramatic, sometimes passionate, sometimes light-hearted work, that was flawlessly executed by a company at artistic one with itself.
The introspective 'Intransit' was the next offering a kind of a solo number, intensely strong and very masculine but the celebrated 'Pocomania' was the final offering on the night's programme and this all-time favourite, despite a glitch or two, with the score, was the night's belissima grande offering, and she was received as such to warm applause, that climaxed with a rush of emotion-filled rhythmic applause, signaling a welcome to the company's 42nd season, and curtains for a night of excellence in dance and music from a glorious cultural institution.
Among those out sharing in the celebration of dance were wife of Health Minister, Urla Junor; wife of the Cuban Ambassador Mercedes Piedra; businessman Douglas Graham and his lovely wife Melanie Graham, she being former principal dancer with the NDTC; socialite Ruby Martin; Jeff Cobham; Dowager Empress Gloria Moodie; raconteur and cultural snobissimo Norman Rae; Joseph Auxilly and the charmingly lovely Sandra Shirley; Elima Hall and her granddaughters visiting from Paris; Garth Moodie; a regal looking Hillary Phillips, QC; lawyer and talk-show co-host Patrick Bailey; Carmen Brown; hotelier Michael Bryan; Norma Eaton; dramatist and actor Brian Heap; the lovely modeling and dance icon Sheila Hylton; former international dancer, and choreographer Clive Thompson; former NDTC lead dancer and choreographer Barry Moncrieffe; Judy Wedderburn; Derrick Leslie; the charming Karin Daley-Cooper; Esau and Diana Jacobson of Long Island, New York; the lovely Sheryl Hyman; Patrick Pitter; Sheldon and Lucy Dalrymple; James and Suzette Tulloch and scores of others.
